A free, public forum on “Women’s Rights: A Global Challenge,” with Michelle Bachelet, the United Nations’ first under-secretary general for gender equity and the empowerment of women and hosted by the University of California, Berkeley’s Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS). Bachelet will take questions at the end of her talk.

WHO

At the United Nations, Bachelet is overseeing efforts to formulate and implement global policies promoting gender equity.

While president of Chile from 2006 to 2010 she established innovative social programs, addressed poverty issues, enhanced the country’s competitiveness, and successfully guided Chile though the worldwide economic downturn.

Bachelet ventured into politics while studying medicine at the University of Chile in the early 1970s. The 1973 coup that brought Gen. Augusto Pinochet to power interrupted her life and studies. Her father, an air force general, was arrested and died in prison, and she and her mother were detained and tortured. After her release in 1975, Bachelet went into exile, returning to Chile in 1979 to hold public health posts and to serve as minister of health and minister of defense before becoming president.

WHEN

Doors open at 5 p.m., Thursday, April 14, and the talk begins promptly at 5:30 p.m.

WHERE

Dwinelle Hall, Room 155, near the center of campus, just northwest of Sather Gate. A campus map is online at http://berkeley.edu/map/maps/CDEF345.htmlac

DETAILS

Bachelet’s talk is in addition to a series of seminars that she is teaching for CLAS on democratic governance, development and global women’s rights.

To submit a brief question on a single topic for Bachelet, email brittanygabel@berkeley.edu. Selected questions will be asked during a special session after Bachelet’s talk.